As the largest band saw blade manufacturer of Europe, we now make the WIKUS blades in our state-of-the-art facility that has a manufacturing footprint of about 550 thousand square feet, in Spangenberg, Germany.

As mentioned in our last issue not only did we unveil WI.COM, but also have further invested into our production facility. The impressive carbide manufacturing has been complimented
with a high-tech inline manufacturing for Bimetal. The magnitude of the project involved designing new equipment proprietary to WIKUS, testing it, housing, and much more that resulted in a multi-year project that has been completed and now we manufacture, with even higher consistency the WIKUS Bimetal band saw blades.

A number of reconstructions, renovations, restructuring and extension projects were necessary to accommodate the new needs of the new way of making blades. A task that even involved change of buildings, that represented WIKUS in the past, and construct the new WIKUS  of the future. A clear signal of a start of a new era. This strategic decision was not only a visual change, even more so of a significant step into the future of manufacturing, a decision that has already been recorded now in our company’s history.

The way to a “lean enterprise” or using the modern term, to a “META company” (Most Efficient Technology and Administration) applies to our manufacturing and administration. The new factory layout was spectacular on the plans and after a four year period of development and building, there it impressively stands as the most modern and most efficient production site for bimetal band saw blades in the world.

What does that mean for you? Well the automated in-line process reduces manufacturing time significantly, it eliminates many manual handling steps that were done in multiple departments, and it reduces risks, and increases consistency. * Inline – in simple terms a raw coil of material is loaded into the equipment and out comes a finished saw blade coil.

Here are a few of the advantages for user:

• New production process will improve the product characteristics
• Cutting edge and tooth gullet will be optimized
• Set symmetry is improved
• Less coil bend / memory
• Planeness and straightness of the blade are improved
• “Super Finishing” new look, further underlines the high quality level of the product
• Blade surface is brighter and smoother
• High consistency

What is the added value for you? The above mentioned characteristics that are possible through the new manufacturing, are complimented by

• Higher blade-life
• Shorter break-in process
• High-quality appearance
• Finer cutting surface

Convinced of our blades, yet intrigued by this article and want to find out more? WIKUS is constantly evolving, so take the opportunity and reach out to us and come visit our facility in Germany. You are sincerely invited.